Lock protector



N A M S S O R C E R LOCK PROTECTOR Filed July 14, 1937 ATTORN EYS WITNES% Patented Apr. 19, 1938 NEED STATES PATENT OF-FIE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to protectors for locks exposed to weather elements, for shielding and protecting the locks against becoming wet, thereby preventing freezing and rusting thereof, and

e its general object is to provide a protecting shield that is primarily designed for use on mail boxes and the like, to retain the locks thereof dryso that they can be readily opened regardless of weather conditions.

'io A further object is to provide a lock protector,

that can be secured in position for use in an easy and expeditious manner, and allows ready access to the lock under all conditions.

Another object is to provide a lock protector in the form of a shield for disposal over the lock and which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and extremely eiicient in use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of one 'form of mail box showing my protector attached thereto and positioned over the lock of the door thereof.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 2 2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a front view of the mounting member or flap holder.

Figure 4 is a top plan view partly in section illustrating the protector on an enlarged scale and secured to the box.

mounting member or holder is made.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of another form of mail box with my protector secured thereto and in use.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken approximately online l--l of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken through a. slightly modified form of protector.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be 50 noted that I have illustrated my protector applied to two different types of mail boxes, for protecting or shielding the locking means therefor, but I want it understood that my protector can be used for locks for any purpose, and is not 55 necessarily conned to mail box locks. The mail Figure is a view of the blank from which the Y (Cl. 'l0-56) boxes of Figures 1 and 6 are each oi the type now ,in general use, for mail collection purposes, and each includes a body I having the usual drop door 2 hinged thereto,'the only difference being that the door of the form as shown in Figure l is 'disposed at the front of the box and the door for the form as sho-wn in Figure 6 is disposed on one side of the box. The attaching member or holder of my protector is preferably made from a single strip of metal of rectangular formation as best shown in Figure 5 and the strip which is indicated by the reference numeral 3 is bent on the fold line 4 to provide an overhanging portion 5 that has its lower edge curved as at 6 inwardly toward the body portion 'I to provide a channel pocket for cooperation with the body portion l for a purpose which will be presently described. The strip is further bent on the fold line 8 to provide an outwardly inclined portion 9, and the body portion has a plurality of countersunk openings IV0 therein arranged in row formation for the purpose of receiving the bolts of bolt and nut connections II for securing the mounting member to the mail box or any other suitable supporting means having a lock associated therewith or adjacent thereto and which is exposed to the weather elements. The curved portion 6 is notched as at I2, so that the heads of the bolts can be readily passed therethrough in applying the holder in position for use.

'I'he blank also has formed therewith ears I3 extending from the side edges thereof, and the ears are bent to close the ends of the pocket, as clearly shown in Figure 4.

The flap of my protector includes a single sheet I4 of suitable flexible waterproof material, such as rubber, and formed on one edge of the sheet I4 is a bead I5 for disposal in the pocket of the holder as best shown in Figures 2 and 7, it being obvious that the bead isslidably mounted in the pocket, thence the ears I3 are bent about the sides of the holder to retain the flap therein. The sheet I4 is preferably reinforced by a sheet IS of cloth or any suitable fabric material, and the iiap is of suflicient length to extend from the holder a suitable distance to completely cover either the door carried lock Il of the form as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or the padlock I8 of the form as shown in Figures 6 and '7.

It will be noted that the flap follows the shape of the outwardly inclined portion 9 which directs the same in a plane outwardly beyond the locking means, and thence the iiap depends from the portion 9 for disposal in front of the locking means, the flap being of sufficient width to extend a considerable distance beyond the opposite sides of the locking means, as will be apparent upon inspection of Figures 1 and. 6, consequently the locking means will be retained dry to prevent freezing or rusting thereof so that it can be readily opened under all circumstances.

I preferably provide a plurality of grooves I S in the outer surface of the sheet I4 and which extend across the same, as best shown in Figures 1 and 6, to facilitate cutting the ap to the desired length, the grooves acting as guide means, as will be apparent. The grooves also act to allow for free bending of the fla-p when lifting the same to obtain access to the lock.

In the form of ap as best shown in Figures 2 and 7, I provide the sheet of fabric material on the back of the sheet I4, While in Figure 8 a sheet 20 of fabric material is embedded within the sheet 2| of waterproof material. In Figure 8 I have also illustrated gaskets 22 that are disposed between the body portion l of the holder and the Wall of the box, to provide a leak proof connection between the same, as will be apparent, and the gaskets may be formed from portions cut from the flap.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent, and it might be mentioned that the holder and flap can be used separately, if desired. When the nap is used without the holder, it can be secured directly to the box or other means above the lock, by suitable fastening means, such as bolt and nut connections.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A lock protector comprising a flexible reinforcing weather proof flap, a bead formed on one edge of said flap, a holder for the flap and including a pocket to detachably receive the bead, and means for securing the holder in position for use with the ap depending from the holder for disposal over the lock to cover and protect the latter from weather elements.

2. A lock protector comprising a flexible reinforced water proof flap, a bead formed on one edge of said flap, a holder for the flap and including a body portion having openings therein, an overhanging portion extending from the body portion and curved toward the latter to provide a pocket for detachably receiving the bead, means to retain the bead Within the pocket, and means extending through the openings for securing the holder in position for use to suitable supporting means with the flap depending from the holder for disposal over the lock to cover and protect the latter from Weather elements.

3. A lock protector comprising a flexible waterproof ap, a bead formed on one edge of said ap, a holder for the flap and including a body portion having openings therein, an overhanging portion extending from the body portion and curved toward the latter to provide a pocket detachably receiving the bead, means to retain the bead Within the pocket, an outwardly inclined portion depending from the body, and means extending through the openings for securing the holder in position for use to suitable supporting means with the flap resting upon the outwardly inclined portion to direct the flap outwardly therefrom for disposal over the lock to cover,

and protect the latter from weather elements`\.30

and leak proof means for disposal between the body portion and the supporting means.

4. A lock protector comprising a flexible reinforced transversely grooved waterproof flap, a bead formed on one edge of the flap, a holder for the ap and including a body portion, an overhanging portion extending from the body portion and curved toward the latter to provide a pocket for detachably receiving the bead, bendable tongues formed on the ends of the body portion to close the end of the pocket for holding the bead in the latter, and means for securing the holder in position for use with the flap depending therefrom for disposal over the lock to cover and protect the latter from weather elements.

ROY E. CROSSMAN. 

